How to identify Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

How to identify Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

Flowering dogwood, also known as Flowering cornel

Flowering dogwood distinguished by its ornamental value, exhibits distinctive characteristics conducive to its identification. This deciduous tree spans typically 15 to 25 feet (4.6 to 7.6 meters) in height. Before the seasonal foliage appears, it showcases prominent, showy bracts. The leaf arrangement is opposite, with veins arcing towards the leaf tip, and a smooth to undulating leaf margin. With age, the bark of flowering dogwood transforms, developing a texture ranging from scaly to finely blocky.

Lifespan: Perennial

Plant Type: Tree

Leaf Type: Deciduous

Quickly Identify Flowering dogwood

Showy, notched bracts surrounding inconspicuous green flowers in early spring.

Glossy red drupes in clusters of 3-4, favored by birds in late summer.

Opposite, acuminate leaves with dull green upper and pubescent glaucous underside.

Slender stem with powdery coating turning smooth, bark breaking into blocks.

Mature trunk with patchwork of small scaly blocks in gray to black shades.

Detailed Traits of Flowering dogwood

Leaf Features

The leaves of flowering dogwood are opposite, simple, and oval to ovate in shape, measuring 2.5-6 inches (6-15 cm) in length. They are acuminate at the tip and cuneate to rotund at the base. The upper surface is dull green while the underside is glaucous with pubescent veins. Each leaf has 6-7 pairs of veins that curve from the base to the tip. The leaves turn red to reddish purple in the fall.

Leaf Arrangement

Opposite

Leaf Apex

Acuminate

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Flower Features

The flowers of flowering dogwood bloom in early spring before leaf-out, typically from March to May. The true flowers, inconspicuous and green, are nestled at the center, surrounded by four showy bracts. Each bract is approximately 2 inches (5 cm) long, notched at the tips, and often mistaken for petals. The flower buds are round, flattened at the ends, and gray-green, enveloped by two silky scales that transform into the prominent white bracts.

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Stem Features

The stem of flowering dogwood features horizontal branching and is slender, starting off green to purple, sometimes with a fine powdery coating. When young, the stem is pubescent with tiny hairs, but it becomes smooth (glabrous) as it matures. The bark predominately breaks into small, squarish to rectangular grayish-brown to blackish blocks, providing a distinctive texture useful for identification.

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Fruit Features

The fruit of flowering dogwood consists of glossy, bright, and shiny red drupes with an oval shape, each measuring approximately 0.5 inches (1.27 cm) in diameter. These fruits are tightly clustered in groups of three or four. Despite their bitter and inedible nature for human consumption, they are highly favored by birds. The fruiting period of flowering dogwood occurs between August and October, adding a vibrant touch to the late summer and autumn landscape.

Learn About the Fruit Glossary

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Flowering dogwood and Their Similar Plants

Kousa dogwood vs. Flowering dogwood: What's The Difference?

The kousa dogwood is known for its ornamental appeal. The showy flowers and bark, as well as the lovely fall foliage, make this vase-shaped tree a great addition to your patio, yard, or lawn. The tree matures to about 9 m high and is often just as wide.

Red osier dogwood vs. Flowering dogwood: What's The Difference?

Red osier dogwood is a thicket-forming shrub with attractive dark red winter stems. This plant produces yellow flowers in early summer and fruit late in the fall. Over ninety-eight species of birds rely on this plant for food or shelter. Native Americans used red osier dogwood branches to weave baskets.

Common dogwood vs. Flowering dogwood: What's The Difference?

The common dogwood tree contains some of the toughest wood of any tree. As a result, it is said that the cross used to crucify Jesus Christ was built from this. The pollen in the blossoms of this plant attracts butterflies, and the berries attract birds. It is typically planted as an aesthetic plant and is utilized for borders, hedges, or screens.

Cornelian cherry vs. Flowering dogwood: What's The Difference?

Cornelian cherry (*Cornus mas*) is a flowering deciduous shrub native to Central Europe, Southern Europe, and Western Asia. While this species' ripe fruit is edible, the unripe fruit has a harsh, astringent taste and should not be consumed. Unlike most other types of wood, the wood from this species is dense enough to sink in water.

Siberian dogwood vs. Flowering dogwood: What's The Difference?

Siberian dogwood (Cornus alba) is a perennial flowering shrub best known for its red bark that makes a beautiful display when the tree loses its leaves in winter. It produces small but showy white flowers from spring to summer. Berries appear late summer and ripen in fall. Plant in full sun for best color in moist but well-drained soil.

Roughleaf dogwood vs. Flowering dogwood: What's The Difference?

Roughleaf dogwood (Cornus drummondii) is a deciduous shrub that’s native to eastern North America. The genus name comes from the Latin word “Cornu,” which means horn. This is because the wood is so dense and strong. The specific epithet “drummondii” is an homage to Thomas Drummond, a Scottish botanist. He spent considerable time in America collecting plant specimens.

Silky dogwood vs. Flowering dogwood: What's The Difference?

Silky dogwood (*Cornus amomum*) is a deciduous shrub native to eastern North America. Underneath the leaves and twigs, you’ll find silky hairs—hence the name. Native Americans referred to it as 'kinnikinnick,' which means 'smoking mixture,' because they smoked it like tobacco. White flowers bloom forth in the spring. They are followed by blue fruit that birds love to snack on.

Gray dogwood vs. Flowering dogwood: What's The Difference?

The gray dogwood is an excellent addition to a wildflower or natural garden. Although this shrub is not particularly beautiful, it creates plenty of shelter and food for wildlife. It thrives in almost any type of soil, sunlight or watering conditions. Its dense nature and easy care makes it a great hedge bush.

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Key Facts About Flowering dogwood

Attributes of Flowering dogwood

Lifespan

Perennial

Plant Type

Tree

Plant Height

6 m to 10 m

Spread

8 m

Leaf Color

Green

Red

Purple

Yellow

Variegated

Flower Size

7 cm to 10 cm

Flower Color

White

Pink

Green

Fruit Color

Red

Green

Stem Color

Red

Purple

Green

Leaf type

Deciduous

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Scientific Classification of Flowering dogwood

Phylum

Vascular plants

Class

Dicotyledons

Order

Dogwoods, hydrangeas, and allies

Family

Dogwood

Genus

Dogwoods

Species

Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)

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Distribution Map of Flowering dogwood

Flowering dogwood is native to eastern North America from Ontario to Mexico, where it can be found growing in woodlands, floodplains, and ravines. This plant is cultivated throughout its native range for use in landscaping, but has not been exported elsewhere.

Native

Cultivated

Invasive

Potentially invasive

Exotic

No species reported

Learn More About the Flowering dogwood

A Comprehensive Guide to Flowering dogwood How to Grow and Care for Flowering dogwood